Two people have died and the Newell Highway is blocked after a single-vehicle crash south of Narrabri this morning.

Emergency services were called to a location 25km south of Narrabri shortly before 6am today (Sunday 27 December 2016), responding to reports a vehicle had left the highway and struck a tree.

Five people were in the vehicle at the time; two died at the scene, three are being treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter team from Tamworth.

One person will be airlifted to hospital, two will be taken by road ambulance.

Investigators from Barwon Local Area Command are on en route.

Diversions are in place; check www.livetraffic.com for updates.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Barwon Local Area Command Commander, Acting Superintendent Kylie Chinnery said “assistance of members of the public along with a swift response from local Police worked together to effect the timely arrests and recovery of stolen property”.

“This is a really good result for both Police and the community and one which wouldn’t haven’t occurred without the input from vigilant and community minded people” he said.

Enquiries are continuing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken with Police is urged to contact Barwon Local Area Command on 02 6757 0799.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page:https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information v

Dec. 20, 2015, the Northern Daily Leader.

THE University of NSW has reaffirmed its position that the drop in groundwater levels around Werris Creek are in part caused by the Whitehaven Coal mine, despite an independent state government commissioned report claiming otherwise.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Water commissioned independent expert Noel Merrick to conduct a peer review of the UNSW study, which was done on behalf of Caroona Coal Action Group who have used water concerns at Werris Creek in a campaign against the proposed Shenhua mine.

Dr Merrick’s review confirmed there had been a drop in groundwater levels, but “found no evidence that the declines are due to the mine”.

Instead, Dr Merrick pointed to climatic conditions as the likely cause for the decline.

Racing around on motorbikes, riding horses, swimming in dams and generally getting dirty is a dusty dream-world for the many children visiting farms these summer holidays. But they’re not always as aware of potential dangers as those who live there, so it’s important to set some rules and boundaries to keep everyone safe.

Children under 15 years old make up about 20 per cent of the on-farm deaths in Australia each year, and nearly one-third of those children are visitors, according to the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (ACAHS).

Historically the biggest risk has been drowning, but quad bikes are an increasing issue, with two deaths involving children recorded in the first half of 2015.

The process to complete an application for funding can be challenging and is often approached with a degree of apprehension. RDA Central West has developed aGuide to Successful Grant Writing to help individuals, organisations and communities in our region develop an understanding of how to apply for funding assistance.

Newsletter

A word from the CEO

Firstly, thanks to those who sent such warm words of welcome in response to my being formally appointed CEO of FRRR – they were greatly appreciated. There is a wonderful legacy on which to build and I am very much looking forward to continuing to grow FRRR and connect even more donors with local leaders to deepen our reach into rural, regional and remote Australia. Recently, we welcomed Dominos as a new partner, and I hope they will be the first of many.

By Jamieson Murphy Dec. 12, 2015,

Northerners are being urged to help map the NSW koala population west of the Great Dividing Range to save them from localised extinction.

The Western Woodlands Alliance (WWA) said its project was the first step towards creating a landscape-wide koala park.

The group is calling on people from the New England region to share their memories and records of koalas over the past 50 years.

WWA spokesman Noel Plumb said koalas and their woodland habitats were being lost rapidly due to intensive over-logging, coal mining, coal seam gas extraction, land clearing, and climate change with record drought.

Koala numbers in the Pilliga forest have fallen from about 10,000 to less than 100 in only 20 years, while numbers in the "Koala Capital" of Gunnedah are down significantly.

"Koalas are nearly extinct in the mighty Pilliga forest, after decades of intensive industrial logging and fire management that has put the interests of the logging industry before the wildlife, the woodlands and the safety of the broader community," Mr Plumb said.

Healthy Kids Bus Stop - Wee Waa

Over 54 Children were identified for referrals to local and specialised health services. Well done to everyone involved!

Our Healthy Kids Bus Stop team are making their final visit for 2015 this week in the town of Wee Waa. A huge thanks to all of our supporters who have helped make this visit possible. A special mention to the Hunter New England Local Health District, Healthwise, Auscott, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Wee Waa Public Schoo

Held Thursday the 10th December

Great evening was held with lots of stalls and chocolate wheel. Great support for this community event. Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce do a great job to organise this event. Thank you to all the shop fronts and stallholders, Lions club, Max Fm, Face painters, Rotary club,the fishing club, grins and giggles photo booth and Santa! You make this night such a success.
And congratulations to the winners of the shopper dollars!
$1000 Winner - Kay Wood
$500 Winner - Katlin Manton
$250 Winner - Kathy Allwell

Australia’s economic performance of the last 20 years has been unlike anywhere else in the world. This remarkable story has generally been told in terms of industries: the mining boom, the fate of manufacturing in Australia and now, the role of construction and infrastructure investment for our future.

This is an important part of the story – but it is not all.

A spatial perspective reveals many hidden insights about our economy, and its future potential. Far from being a drag on national prosperity as is commonly assumed, regions outside our major cities are an important source of Australia’s economic growth.

Our regions’ workforce accounts for one third of employment in Australia, and regional Australia is at the forefront of output per worker in over a third of industries. Most remarkably, since 2001, regional Australia has gained ground on metro areas in productivity terms in every industry except mining.

The importance of regional Australia to the national economy means that realising the potential of our regions remains critical to securing future prosperity for all Australians. Understanding the scale of this opportunity will be critical for getting things right for Australia as a whole.

The Land Newspaper

FARMERS near the Pilliga Forest are gambling on having their voices heard after they blockaded a CSG wastewater plant with a six-tonne hay bale wall in protest action yesterday.

About 50 farmers, their families and supporters blockaded the access road for Santos’ Leewood CSG wastewater treatment facility near the Pilliga forest with nearly six tonnes of hay bales formed into a six-foot high wall.

The farmers played poker atop the hay wall and beneath them was a banner stating “Santos: Stop Gambling with our Farming Future”.

The blockade stopped construction of Phase 2 of the Leewood project yesterday.

“We simply cannot accept this game of Russian roulette Santos is playing with our groundwater,” said Coonamble farmer Josh Borowski.

“Coal seam gas jeopardises our future as farmers on the land and we are determined to stop Santos and protect our sustainable farming livelihoods.

“We are utterly opposed to the Santos Narrabri Gas Project proposal in the Pilliga forest.”

Mr Borowski’s wife, Stephanie, attended the protest with their one-year-old baby and said they could not stand by while the “toxic industry” polluted their environment and contaminated their groundwater.

“We utterly rely on groundwater on our farm – a risk to groundwater is a risk to our future,” she said.